Cottage cheese is a product that plays a huge role in baby food. Parents need to give it to their little ones in reasonable amounts. It can be included in the menu several times a week.
How often to give a child cottage cheese
Cottage cheese is a fermented milk product that contains a huge amount of valuable components. It is rich in B vitamins, calcium. Cottage cheese is recommended to be introduced into the children's diet from 8-9 months. If the first complementary food was introduced earlier than 6 months, you can give your baby fermented milk products from 7-8 months.
You need to start introducing the child to cottage cheese with small amounts. For the first time, it is enough to introduce into the diet half a teaspoon of the product per day. By the age of 1, the baby can already receive up to 50 grams of cottage cheese per day. At the same time, it is not worth giving it to a child every day. It is best to offer it every other day. An excess of calcium intake into the body is just as harmful as its lack.
A child under 2 years old should receive about 60-80 grams of cottage cheese every other day. After reaching 2 years of age, a portion of a fermented milk product intended for his nutrition should already weigh 100 grams. At the same time, the baby should receive no more than 300 grams of cottage cheese weekly. Thus, you need to introduce it into the child's diet 3 times a week.
These recommendations are average. The local pediatrician is able to correct them taking into account the individual characteristics of the child, his need for calcium and other minerals. So, for example, for babies with signs of incipient rickets, daily inclusion of cottage cheese in the diet is permissible. Moreover, it is better to use it together with vitamin D, which improves its absorption.
What kind of cottage cheese to give kids
Cottage cheese intended for baby food must be of the highest quality. Unfortunately, in modern supermarkets and markets, products are often sold not of the very first freshness. That is why, for feeding babies under the age of 2 years, it is recommended to cook cottage cheese yourself. To do this, you need to purchase fresh milk, sour cream or kefir.
A tablespoon of sour cream or 100 milliliters of kefir should be added to a glass of milk. Next, you need to keep the resulting mixture at room temperature for 3-5 hours, then pour it into a saucepan and heat it up.
When the milk begins to curdle, turn off the stove, strain the mixture through cheesecloth and lightly squeeze the resulting curd. This recipe allows you to prepare an incredibly tasty and healthy product with a delicate texture.
Children's curds are sold in specialized stores and pharmacies. They may well replace homemade cottage cheese, since manufacturers produce them specifically for the youngest age category. It is very convenient to buy them when the baby is still very small and eats only 20-50 grams of fermented milk products.
After 2 years, you can give your baby cottage cheese of industrial production. In this case, it is imperative to pay attention to the date of its release and expiration date, as well as taste characteristics.
